The riddle story is the most naïve form of the mystery story. It may contain a certain element of the supernatural—be tinged with mysticism—but its motive and the revelation thereof must be frankly materialistic—of the earth, earthy. In this respect it is very closely allied to the detective story. The model riddle story should be utterly mundane in motive—told in direct terms.

Failing utterly in all efforts at reconciliation, the half-crazed man took the first steamer for New York, having suffered in scarcely a fortnight more than in all his previous life. His whole pleasure trip had been ruined, he had failed to consummate important business arrangements, and now he saw his home broken up and his happiness ruined. During the voyage he scarcely left his stateroom, but lay there prostrated with agony. In this black despondency the one thing that sustained him was the thought of meeting his partner, Jack Evelyth, the friend of his boyhood, the sharer of his success, the bravest, most loyal fellow in the world. In the face of even the most damning circumstances, he felt that Evelyth's rugged common sense would evolve some way of escape from this hideous nightmare. Upon landing at New York he hardly waited for the gang-plank to be lowered before he rushed on shore and grasped the hand of his partner, who was waiting on the wharf.

"J

Reader Reviews

CONTENTS
"The Mysterious Card" by Cleveland Moffett
"The Great Valdez Sapphire" by Anonymous
"The Oblong Box" by Edgar Allan Poe
"The Birth-Mark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne
"A Terribly Strange Bed" by Wilkie Collins
"The Torture by Hope" by Villiers de l'Isle Adam
"The Box with the Iron Clamps" by Florence Marryat
"My Fascinating Friend" by William Archer
"The Lost Room" by Fitz-James O'Brien